Odometer Tampering Case: CLOSED

Most Recent Update 10/02 (See end of document)

United States v. Gill Saleet, Ron Schichtman, and Jean Bae, Crim. No. 00-294-A (E.D. Virginia)

2/6/01 Update:
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, and the Office of Consumer Litigation of the United States Department of Justice, conducted an investigation, in the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, into the sale of used motor vehicles with odometers that had been altered in violation of federal law, including 49 U.S.C. §§ 32701, et seq. The investigation disclosed odometer tampering on hundreds of vehicles.

On August 17, 2000, Gill Maor Saleet, Ron Schichtman, and Jean Kyung Bae were indicted on criminal charges based on their roles in a fraudulent scheme to sell these vehicles to unsuspecting consumers. The indictment was sealed (i.e., not made public) so as to allow the FBI to apprehend the defendants.

On November 16, 2000, the indictment was unsealed and made public after Mr. Saleet was arrested and Ms. Bae voluntarily surrendered. Mr. Schichtman has not yet been apprehended and is believed to have fled the country. Anyone with information on Mr. Schichtman's whereabouts is asked to notify their local office of the FBI. Please reference the case name and number listed above when providing any information.

On February 2, 2001, Ms. Bae entered a guilty plea to one count of inducing a person to travel in interstate commerce in execution of a scheme to defraud. As part of her guilty plea, Ms. Bae agreed to pay restitution to the owners of six specific vehicles she sold (or assisted in the sale of). The owners of these six specific vehicles have already been notified. Ms. Bae's sentencing is presently scheduled for April 20, 2001.

The government is in the process of notifying owners of vehicles involved in these offenses of their legal rights and obligations. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is assisting this aspect of the case.

2/16/01 Update:
On February 16, 2001, Gill Maor Saleet plead guilty before Judge Albert V. Bryan, Jr., to conspiring, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371, with Ron Schichtman and others to purchase high-mileage used cars, to roll back the odometers, and to sell the rolled back cars to unsuspecting purchasers. Mr. Saleet admitted to being involved with buying or selling approximately 410 vehicles with rolled-back odometers as part of the conspiracy. Mr. Saleet also plead guilty to one count of transporting an altered and forged motor vehicle title in interstate commerce in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2314. As part of Mr. Saleet's plea, he has agreed to make restitution to the victims of his offense. Please note, however, that no restitution order has yet been entered by the court, and it is unclear whether Mr. Saleet has the financial resources to pay restitution. Mr. Saleet's sentencing has now been scheduled for May 18, 2001.

The government is in the process of attempting to locate and notify the current owners of the 410 vehicles of their legal rights and obligations.

3/21/01 Update:

The government has mailed letters to all identifiable victims of the offenses committed by Gill Saleet and Jean Kyung Bae, to notify them of the status of this prosecution and to offer them the opportunity to notify the United States Probation Office of their losses. Those letters include the government's notification letter, a letter from the probation officer, and three enclosures ("Victim Loss Worksheet," "Consumer Declaration," and "Odometer Fraud – Civil Remedies for Victims"). On-line versions of these documents may be accessed by clicking on the words above. The Victim Loss Worksheet and Consumer Declaration should be filled out and returned to the following address no later than April 2, 2001:

F. Kurt Bubenhofer
United States Probation Officer
401 Courthouse Square
Alexandria, VA 22314

Please fill out these two forms to the best of your ability. Any additional expenses incurred as a result of owning the vehicle (for example, repairs) may be written on section B5 of the "Victim Loss Worksheet." You also may include an attachment if you have additional information to submit to the probation officer. Make sure to include your name, the Vehicle Identification Number ("V.I.N."), and signature on any attachment. Due to the large number of victims notified, please call the contact person listed in the letter only if necessary.

5/7/01 Update:

On April 20, 2001, Jean Bae was sentenced to two years' probation and ordered to pay $20,840 in restitution to the owners of six specific rolled-back vehicles that she was involved in selling. The six victims have already been notified. Mr. Saleet is scheduled to be sentenced on May 18, 2001.

6/7/01 Update:

On May 18, 2001, Judge Albert V. Bryan, Jr., sentenced Gill Maor Saleet to 30 months imprisonment in Federal District Court in Alexandria, Virginia. Several victims attended the hearing and were given the opportunity to speak to Judge Bryan before Saleet was sentenced. Judge Bryan also ordered Saleet to pay $618,125 in restitution to the 188 victims who timely responded to the Probation Officer's request for victim information. The restitution order requires Saleet to make monthly payments of at least $1,000 beginning 60 days after his release from prison. Any payments made by Saleet will go to the court and will then be shared equally among the victims. Any amount due a victim shall be reduced by any amount the victim recovers for the same loss from any other source. The Probation Office is in the process of sending letters to each victim listed in the restitution order. If you have any questions regarding the restitution order, please contact the Probation Officer.

9/24/01 Update:

No change in status.

12/01 Update:

No change in status.

3/02 Update:

No change in status.

04/26/02 Update:

On April 26, 2002, Chief Judge James C. Cacheris reduced Gill Maor Saleet's prison sentence to 20 months because of the substantial assistance Saleet provided to the government in the investigation of another individual. Saleet must still pay $618,125.00 in restitution to the 188 victims who had previously responded to the Probation Officer's request for victim information in this case. The restitution order requires Saleet to make monthly payments of at least $1,000 beginning 60 days after his release from prison. Any payments made by Saleet will go to the court and will then be shared equally among the victims. If you have any questions regarding the restitution order, please contact the Probation Officer.

6/02 Update:

No change in status.

10/02 Update:

No change in status.

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